Humphrey council talks tree removal

The disposal of a single tree and its $300 price tag caused controversy within the Humphrey City Council Monday night.

Sarah Morris, smorris@stuttgartdailyleader.com

The disposal of a single tree and its $300 price tag caused controversy within the Humphrey City Council Monday night.

It began eight months ago when a Humphrey resident had a large tree removed from her backyard. Mayor Alice Black said she happened to pass the man working, stopped to see what was going on and, when asked, told the man he could not dispose of the tree in the city landfill since it was the clean up weekend. If approved, the disposal would have been free.

Newly-elected Councilman Michael Hodges said he originally brought up the matter in January since the woman felt targeted. He asked that $300 be repaid to her since it was never made clear that the worker could have disposed of the tree in the city landfill another day.

There was also confusion on why Black denied the request as well since others, including Black, have disposed of trees in the city landfill. Black said it depends on the size of the tree.

The 30-minute discussion was heated at times and centered on Black’s discussion with the man as well as why the woman never approached city officials beforehand. The woman never addressed the issue in 2012 or attended the city council meetings when the matter was being discussed.

Hodges and newly-elected councilman Jimmy Carr suggested that Black could be intimidating to talk to, although unintentional. The council ultimately voted 4-2 to repay $150 of the disposal fee to the woman, if she accepted. In the future, councilwoman Melissa Robinson said clarification should be provided on what can be taken to the landfill and when they are allowed to do so.

The council’s clashing didn’t end there, however, with Black later asking anyone who had a copy of the petition to remove her from office to step forward so she could see a copy of the petition and who was signing it. Again, Carr suggested it was due to intimidation.

Despite the at-odds comments, the council discussed getting the city’s equipment and roads in better shape. The council also spoke to a Waste Management representative on costs to have the city’s trash pick-up for 250 people outsourced since the city’s dump truck is in “bad shape.” The fee would be about $14 per person with a five-year contract with the city possibly adding an additional cost to cover city costs, such as administrative.

“As you all know, our town is struggling,” Black added. “We’ve already had to delay some bills we’re paying.” Hodges said he would also like a “no sagging” pants in public law put into effect. The city lawyer will be looking into it.

On a more cheerful note, Volunteer Fire Chief Craig Dardenne said the city won the Stuttgart Fire Department’s auction of a 1993 Ford fire truck with all of the needed equipment with a $1,001.99 bid.

“We were blessed to get it,” he said adding that the department now has three pumpers, a tanker and two brush trucks.

The fire department would be using its department funds to address a leak in its building as well as put in heating and air since they have equipment that could ruin in the heat. It would also need to address radio updates.